Aeroplane



hNOV. 4, 1930. v A, C;t PARKER 1,780,565

AEROPLANE Filed' July 9, 1928 3 sheets-sheet 1 A TTORNE Y.

Nov. 4, 1930.

A. G. PARKER AEROPLANE Filed July 9, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 4, 1930 l UNITED STAT-ES ARNOLD G. PARKER,

PATENT OFFICE AEROPLANE Application mea July e, 192s. y`serial No,291,174.

This invention relates to an aeroplane construction in whichthecylinders of the engine are supported outside of the wing, i. e. either.

above or below the wing, the engine being an air-cooled, slide valve,internal combustion engine. The invent-ion also relates to means forsupplying cooling air transversely to the cylinders of an engine, whichextend parallel v to the longitudinalfaxis of the aeroplane, at rightangles to the propeller, regardless of where the cylinders are supportedwith relation to the aeroplane Wing, and tov means for controllingtheair supplied to said cylinders. The engine cylinders are arrangedwithin parallel to the longitudinal aXis of the aeroplane, at rightangles to the propeller, and a shaft also parallel to the longitudinalaxis of the aeroplane, drives the propeller and preferably the lharmonydrive 'shaft of the engine drives tle propeller. This harmony driveshaft serves asa driving connection to the valve shaft, which is drivenat half speed with relationtothe engine crankshaft.

One object of the invention is to combine the engine cylinders, whichextend parallel tothe longitudinal axis lof the aeroplane, at rightangles tothe propeller, with the wing of an aeroplane, so that thecylinders may be supported outsideof the wing.

Another object of (the invention is to provide means for controlling thecooling of the engine regardless of where the cylinders are supportedwith relation to the wing, by means of shuttersy or louvres arranged-inthe cowling of the engine, and by causing the air, when the plane is Ainflight, to pass transversely' across the cylmdersn The passage ofthe airacross the cylinders may be either from below 40 up or the reverse. l

With theabove and other objects in view, my invention `consists in the`parts', improvements and combinations more fully pointed outhereinafter.

Turning now to the drawings:

the line of flight and extend substantially Figure 1 is a top plan viewof an aeroplane, showing the engine mounted below the wing.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the form shown in Figure1.

Figure 3 is a detailof the worm gearing 50 used between the engine andthe propeller` shaft.

Figure 4 is a detail front elevation showing the engine mounted belowthe wing, head `on.

Figure 5 is a top plan viewof an engine 55 mounted outside the wing,and.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal,`sectional view of the engine, mounted in thefuselage of the aeroplane, and arranged so that visibility is affordedto the aviator, and showing the 5o means for air cooling the engine.

The aeroplane wing 1,` is preferably made of metal and has'the usualailerons 1E. It is provided with covering 2, and has brackets 3, whichtake up the thrust of the propeller, I

spars .4, and struts 5. The wing may be embodied in a monoplane ormultiplane. If embodied in a monoplane, it may be mounted above or belowo'rfmidway of the fuselage.

The engine is a slide valve internal com-V A bustion engine like thatshown in Patents 1,492,57 3 and 1,617,019, to C. H. Matthiessen, jr., inwhich both the valve shaft and the engine crankshaft develop power.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures .1 to 5, the engine issuspended from a wing by means of supports 6, which are connected at 7to the spars 4, and arealso connected to crosspiece'S, and the engineframe at 9. Struts 10 and 11, attach the engine to 80 the spars and takeup the side thrust reaction of the propeller. y

The wing may be made metallic to avoid the danger of burning the wing byan aircooled engine. Or that part of the wing on 85 which the engine ismounted'vmay be made of metal and the rest of the wing may be made ofwood.

In the engine illustrated, the power developed by both the valve shaftand the- 90 i crankshaft,

istransmitted to the propeller shaft. Y As shown, the engine 12,' isprovided with four cylinders 13, 14, 15 and 16which are arranged side bside. The number of cylinders may be varied. The cylinders extend in theline of flight, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane andat right angles to the propeller, and the heads of the cylinders arearranged head on, as shown in Figure 4. The cylinders are preferablyprovided with heat radiating fins 18, and the cooling air passedtransversely to them or longitudinal fins may be used and the air passedlongitudinally overthe cylinders, or spiral fins may be used and the airpassed spirally over the cylinders. Y

By arranging the cylinders parallel to the longitudinal axis of theaeroplane, at right angles to the propeller and mounting the engineabove or below the wing of the aeroplane, a compact structure isobtained. The air resistance offered by the engine and its cowling isthus much reduced.

As shown the engine crankshaft 19, extends in the rear of the cylinderstransversely of the longitudinal axis of the aeroplane. The crankshaftextends in a substantially horizontal plane when the aeroplane is instarting position on the ground. The crankshaft carries a plurality ofcranks 20, and connecting rods 21, one eachfor each cylinder of theengine, which cranks and connecting rods are reciprocated by workingpiston 22, in each cylinder (see Figure 1). A

As illustrated, the shaft for driving the propeller is preferably theharmony drive shaft, which serves as a driving connection to the valveshaft, the latter being driven atI half speed with relation to theengine crankshaft. The harmony driveshaft is mounted parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the aero! plane and is geared to and driven by theengine crankshaft 19, by means of worm 24, carried by the crankshaft andworm wheel 25, carried by the harmony drive shaft 23'.

i Mounted infront of the heads of the engine cylinders is'a transversevalve shaft 26,-which extends parallel to the crankshaft `and carries aplurality of cranks and connecting rods, one

each for each cylinder of the engine, for reciprocating plug v27, andsleeve valve 28, of each cylinder. Gas may be supplied from a fuel tank(not shown) through a suitable carburetor 29, tothe intake manifold 30and inlet 31 of each cylinder, and the exhaust gases are taken away fromthe exhaust port 32, by means .of exhaust manifold 33, and pipe Valveshaft`26, carries a worm'35, which is engaged by worm wheel 36, carriedby the harmony drive shaft"23.` The power developed by thevalvesduringthe explosion cycle, will thus bef transmitted by the valve ward end, towhich hub, propeller blades 38,

are secured. The propeller may be mounted behind the engine, if desired,and then serve as a pusher, instead of a puller, as shown.

As shown, the relation between gears 24, and 425, is 1 to 2, and therelation between gears 35, 36, is 1 to 1, so that the harmony driveshaft, which drives the propeller serves as a driving connection for thevalve shaft 26, which is driven at half speed with relation to theengine crankshaft. Y A propeller spinner 39, carried by the hub, encasesthe hub, as usual, and rotates with the propeller. The engine isprovided with casings 40, 41, and studs 42, connect the engine casingstogether, thus leavin the cylinders exposed to the air currents. bridge43, for the propeller shaft also extends between the two casings.Magnetos 44, supply the current for spark plugs 46.

eans are provided for. passing cooling air transversely across thecylinders of the engine and for controlling the passage of the air. Themeans for supplying and control ling the cooling air may be used withthe cylinders of an engine which may be provided with either poppet orslide valve mechanism.

In the preferred form shown, the engine is provided with suitableCowling 46, which has a central portion 47, which meets the spinner 39,so as to form a streamline, and side p0rtions 748. The side portions ofthe engine Cowling are provided with shutters or louvres '49. Theshutters are controlled manuall bythe aviator or may be controlledautomatlcally. A deflectoii'" plate 50, deilects the air,'so that ittravels throughthe shutters ldownwardly across the cylinders and out ofthe aeroplane. As shown-the shutters are arranged in the top of thecowling but they may be arranged in the bottom of the cowhng to allowthe cooling air to pass upwardlyacross the cylinders and be deflectedover the wing being assisted by the vacuum produced above the wing, thusreducing the formation of ice on the wing. An advantage of the shutterconstruction is thatif one `of the engines of a multi-motored plane goesdead, the shutters forl that engine may be closed and by.

reason of the streamline shape of the fcowl` ing less air resistance tothe dead engine'will be offered.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure6, the engine and propellerare mounted in the nose of the fuselage. The same parts are referred toby the same reference numerals. The engine is suitably supported by.

mounting 51, and the shutters are operated by onnectingdinks 52,connected to them by levers 53,so that the shutters may be opened orclosedby flexible cable 54, -passing around Vas drum 55, provided withhand crank 56, which is controlled by the aviator manually or may becontrolled automatically.

As shown in this Hgurelja clear v ision afforded to the aviator.

Having thus described the construction, 4the operation will be clear. Itwill be under- -harmony drive shaft, said cylinders being mounted atright angles to the propeller, and means for mounting the engine outsidethe wing of an aeroplane.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller of a slidevalve engine, said engine being provided with cylinders, a crankshaftand a valve shaft, both of which shafts develop power, a harmony driveshaft geared to said crankshaft and to said valve shaft, the propellerbeing secured to said har- 'mony drive shaft, said cylinders being mountat right angles to the propeller, and means for mounting the enginebelow Athe wing of an aeroplane. Y

3. In an aeroplane the combination with a wing and propeller of anengine, Whose cylinders lie inthe line of flight, said engine beingprovided with a crankshaft, a shaft geared to the crankshaft, said lastnamed shaft extending in the line of Hight, the propeller being securedthereto, said cylinders being mounted at right angles to the propeller,cowling enclosing said cylinders and means for supplying cooling airtransversely 'to said cylinders.

4. In an aeroplane the combination with a wing and propeller of anengine, whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine beingprovided witha crankshaft, a shaft geared to said crankshaft, saidlast-named shaft extending in the line of Hight, the propeller beingsecured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders, means for supplyingcooling air transversely to said cylinders, and a deHecting plate forguiding the air out of the aeroplane.

5. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller, of anengine Whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine beingprovided with a crankshaft, a shaft geared to said crankshaft. saidlastvnamed shaft extending in the line of Hight, the propeller being securedtheretocowling enclosing said cylinders, shutters in the cowling for`admitting coolingxair,` and means for dec, Y n Hecting the cooling airto and transversely of the cylinders. f

6. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller, of anengineywhosecylinders lie in the line of Hight, said engine beingprovided with a crankshaft, a sha-ft geared to said crankshaft, saidlast named shaft extending in the line ofy Hight, the propeller l Abeing secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders, shutters insaid cowling for admitting cooling air, means controlled by the aviatorfor opening and closing the shutters and means for deHecting the airtransversely of said cylinders.

7. In an aeroplane the combination with a wing and propeller, of anengine whose' cylinders lie in the line of Hi ht, said engine beingprovided with a cranll geared to said crankshaft, said last named shaftextending in the line of Hight, the provpellerbeing secured thereto,cowling enclosing said cylinders, shuttersin the top of said cowling foradmitting coolingk air and means for deHecting the air transversely ofsaid cylinders.

8. In an aeroplanev the combinationwith a Jwing and propeller, of aslide valve engine whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said enginebeing provided with a crankshaft and a valve shaft, a harmony driveshaft geared to said crankshaft and to said valve shaft, said harmonydrive shaft extending in the line of Hight, the propeller being securedthereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders and means for supplyingcooling air transversely to said cylinders.

9. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller, of. aslide valve engine Whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said enginebeing provided with a crankshaft and a valve shaft,'both of whichdevelop power,

rshaft, a rshaft l iol a harmony drive shaft geared to said crank- Ashaft and to said valve shaft, said harmony drive shaft extending in theline of Hight', the propeller being secured thereto, cowling enclosingsaid cylinders, means for supplying cooling air transversely to saidcylinders, and a deHecting plate for guiding the air out of theaeroplane. V

' 10. In an aeroplane, the combination with a wing and propeller, of aslide valve enginewhose cylinders lie in\the line of Hight, said enginebeing provided with a crankshaft'and a valve shaft, both of whichdevelop power, a harmony drive shaft gearedtosaid crankshaft and to saidvalve shaft, said harmony drive shaft extending in the line of Hight,the .propeller being secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders,shutters in the cowling 'for admitting cooling air, and means for de'-Hecting the cooling air to and transversely of the cylinders. y

1l. In an aeroplane the combination witha wing and propeller, of vaslide valve engine whose cylinders lie in the line of Hight, said enginebeing provided with a crankshaft 'and a valve shaft, both of whichdevelop power,

a harmony drive shaft' geared to said crankshaft and to said valveshaft, said harmony drive shaft extending in the line of Hight,

the propeller being secured thereto, cowling enclosing said cylinders;shutters iin said Cowling for admitting cooling air, means controlled bythe aviator for opening and closing the shutters, and means fordelecting the' ainy transversely of said cylinders.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification. i'

ARNOLD G. PARKER.

